Even with a gun in his face at point-blank range, Matthew Arnow said he didn't back down from the angry motorist who had just identified himself as a cop on a recent Sunday afternoon.

Arnow said it wasn't until six days after the April 7 incident with the pickup truck driver that he and his father, Jeffrey, found out the motorist was off-duty Schenectady Detective John Hotaling.

"You wouldn't expect any person of the law to pull out a gun, put it in someone's face, and tell them they're going to kill them, and jump back in the car," said Arnow, 36.

The Arnows recalled Thursday, a day after Hotaling, 45, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor menacing, how the ordeal marred their peaceful family drive along Maple Avenue in their hometown after picking up Jeffrey Arnow's grandson, Nicholas Meisner, 17, from work that afternoon.

The teen was the third occupant in the Plymouth Neon, and was behind the wheel, during the altercation with Hotaling, which took place around 2:45 p.m.

The detective, through the police union, denied any wrongdoing. The Police Benevolent Association has said it supports Hotaling, who fellow cops describe as a laid-back guy with 19 years on the force. PBA president, Ed Ritz, did not immediately return a call Thursday.

The Arnows are calling for the firing of Hotaling, who was placed on unpaid leave Wednesday, pending the outcome of a departmental probe.

"I think he should be terminated immediately and everything we say will be proven," said Jeffrey Arnow, adding he wrote a letter to that effect to Schenectady Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett and city Police Chief Brian Kilcullen.

The elder Arnow estimated that Meisner, a new driver, was traveling just under the 40 mph speed limit when Hotaling veered around the car on the two-lane road, nearly running them off the pavement. Jeffrey said he grabbed the wheel to get the car back onto the road, flabbergasted by what had just happened.

The teen recounts being "freaked out" when Hotaling blew by him at what his grandfather said seemed like close to 60 mph. With Hotaling now in front of them, Jeffrey Arnow, 60, said he honked the horn and motioned with his hands to Hotaling to ask him what's going on.

When they stopped at a red light at Maple and Alplaus avenues, Hotaling left his vehicle and walked briskly toward the driver's side, Jeffrey Arnow said. He quickly jumped out and greeted the angry man with a "few choice words," he said. Matthew Arnow followed suit.

"He was very belligerent, I believe he thought he was coming up on a car full of young teenagers," Jeffrey Arnow said. Once the talking ended, Hotaling allegedly told the men, "Come here, I got something for you."

Matthew Arnow said Hotaling reached under the seat and pulled out a gun, first pointing it about four or five feet from Jeffrey Arnow and then at Matthew Arnow, they said.

He said Hotaling said, " I will (expletive) kill you.

The threat, Matthew Arnow said, only made him mad.

He said he told Hotaling, "if you're going to shoot me, shoot me," as Hotaling returned to his car. Matthew Arnow said he told Hotaling he was calling police, and said the driver responded with "I am a cop."

The younger Arnow said he then stepped in front of the car to try to get the license plate number when the man behind the wheel nearly hit him while speeding away. He managed to get a partial plate number.

The Arnows got back in their car and tailed the motorist before losing him at Glenridge Road and Maple Avenue.

"He didn't act like a cop, he was shaky, he just wanted to get out of there," said Jeffrey Arnow.

Meisner, 17, said the encounter, made him rethink his plans to become a patrol officer.

"How I saw the man act, even when he identified himself as cop, left me disgusted," said Meisner, who said he now wants to work in internal affairs.